The US House of Representatives today passed the landmark Respect for Marriage Act, ensuring federal rights for same-sex and interracial marriages, clearing the way for President Biden’s signature.
Reports The Washington Post:
The House had already passed an earlier version of the Respect for Marriage Act in July, but the Senate delayed its vote on the bill until after the midterm elections. Late last month, the Senate passed the bill with a bipartisan amendment to allay some Republicans’ concerns about religious liberty. The amended bill passed the Senate in a 61-36 vote, with 12 Republican senators joining Democrats in favor of it.
In a 258-169 vote, the House on Thursday passed the bill with the amendment, which clarifies that the federal government would not be authorized to recognize polygamous marriages and confirms that nonprofit religious organizations would not be required to provide “any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”
The bill will now head to Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Biden has said that ensuring federal protections for marriage equality is among his legislative priorities in the lame-duck session.
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